A large, round belly doesn’t always mean your horse is overweight. Some horses have a hay belly that makes them appear pregnant, yet they may struggle to maintain enough body condition to cover their ribs.

While multiple factors contribute to abdominal distention in horses, poor hindgut fermentation of high-fibre, low-quality forage is the primary culprit.

These horses may not be getting enough energy and protein from their diet, leading to poor topline and body condition. Dietary changes or gut support are necessary to get rid of the hay belly.

This podcast will review the causes of hay belly in horses and discuss how a balanced feeding program can prevent it.

Read more: ⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.ca/hay-belly-in-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.